Cleaning the throttle valve worries owners of cars with a carburetor engine from time to time. But the good part about this little problem is the simplicity of this operation. Therefore, we will briefly outline the basic principle of the work that needs to be done if your engine begins to complain about this part.

Flushing the throttle body: what is this part?

The throttle valve is present in fuel injection systems and is responsible for the timely and sufficient supply of air to the system. The correct proportion of each component in the fuel-air mixture guarantees efficient combustion and, accordingly, good power. From here it becomes clear that any error in the operation of this part will affect the performance of the car, and will also worsen the quality of the mixture, and then the condition of the engine.

The damper is directly connected to the gas pedal or accelerator, as it is also called. When the driver presses the pedal, the damper opens using a cable, and the life cycle of the fuel-air mixture begins. Some cars have manual control of this process. But the method of repair and diagnosis does not depend on the principle of the throttle valve. This is exactly what we will talk about next.

Cleaning the throttle valve - how and when to clean it?

If you have already taken the trouble and read the operating manual for your car, you are convinced that this design is quite primitive, there is nothing to break, which means that it needs to be replaced or leveled in very extreme cases, if suddenly someone managed to mechanically damage it. But there are enough factors that could clog the damper itself or the housing in which it is enclosed. After all, it pumps ordinary air, which is far from crystal clear, and besides, oil vapors and crankcase gases are always present in the system. This all condenses, sticks and then makes it difficult for the part to work properly.

There are several signs that should make you at least take a look at the condition of the damper, and maybe clean it. The engine in such a situation is a little unruly, it stubbornly starts, gives dips and floating speed at idle, and can also jerk your car at low speeds. In such cases, check the condition of the intake system, and if you need to flush the throttle valve, then arm yourself with a cleaning aerosol and a cloth, because now we will go to save it.

How to clean the throttle valve - work progress

Cleaning is a simple process, but getting to your destination is much more difficult. The throttle valve is hidden in an air corrugation, which must be removed correctly. Next we begin to disconnect this mechanism from the gas pedal. Let your friend press the pedal in the cabin, and at this time you disconnect the gas cable; this will become possible when the accelerator is depressed. Now it’s the turn of the hoses with antifreeze; we also disconnect them and let the excess liquid drain.

You already understand that we don’t want injuries, so these operations should be performed on a cold engine, that is, after a long period of inactivity, and not immediately after driving, otherwise you risk, at a minimum, getting burned.

Now it's time to remove the throttle body. We start by dismantling the gasket, and then unscrew the damper bolts. That's it, it can be removed. Inspect the manifold to ensure there are no gasket debris there, and clean it if there are any. By the way, it cannot be reused, or rather it is highly not recommended. Therefore, first purchase a new gasket. Now is the time to learn how to clean your throttle body.

We take the aerosol and spray it on the contaminated surface, where there are non-metal parts (plastic, rubber), try to avoid direct contact with the aerosol, as it can damage them. Now wait 15 minutes and remove the solution with a napkin. Where there was no sprayed cleaner, you will need to wipe with a cloth, spraying it with an aerosol. It is also not recommended to pour the product into the body, as is the use of hard cleaning materials or a brush. In the latter case, the protective microlayer can be damaged.

When we press the gas pedal, the force is transmitted through a special cable to a mechanical drive, which opens through a rigid coupling in proportion to our efforts. And the larger the hole, the larger the air supply to the intake manifold. This, in turn, requires increased fuel consumption, which must be mixed in a given proportion with air.

As a result, it turns out that the harder we press on the pedal, the more combustible mixture enters the combustion chamber per unit time, hence the increase in engine power. In principle, the design and function of the throttle valve are such that there is no need to take care of it in any special way, but its contamination can indirectly significantly reduce ride quality. When it is downright black and not shiny, it means that soot and oil dust have accumulated on the surface. Moreover, such deposits are not only on the valve itself, but also on the body, and, of course, on the inner walls. All this is easy to clean.

2 Where does the pollution come from?

It seems that since the air from here goes directly into the combustion chamber, everything should be sterile clean. However, this is not the case. The cause of deposits that require cleaning are crankcase gases carrying oil dust. They get here accidentally and not completely, but still seep through the valve cover from the ventilation system of these same crankcase gases. They consist of the remnants of the unburnt fuel mixture and its combustion products; there are also remnants of oil, which take along the exhaust gases.

It is the oil component that settles on the valve, for this reason it requires periodic cleaning. As a rule, this is done quite easily, you just need to choose the right product. The following behavior can be considered signs of contamination:

• It is less and less possible to start the engine without failures;
• at idle the speed is uneven;
• at the beginning of acceleration (below 15 km/h), the car twitches from time to time;
• When transitioning from idle, a failure occurs.

3 What kind of throttle body cleaner do you use?

Among the people there are many craftsmen who adapt to cleaning with rather exotic compounds. But now there is no need to split hairs, because cleaning the throttle valve does not need to be repeated every week. This is unlikely to be needed more often than after 50–60 thousand km. Therefore, it is quite possible to spend money on a special product, and there will be no harmful consequences after its use if everything is done correctly. This cleaner contains a solvent and various additives, which, of course, no manufacturer will agree to disclose.

The flagship of auto chemical goods, under whose brand you can find almost any necessary liquid for your car, is, of course, Liqui Moly. Although there are plenty of other products on sale too. If, however, there is no targeted cleaner in the store, a carburetor spray is quite suitable. Someone manages to use the liquid WD-40 or even acetone. This may have a similar effect in dissolving oil deposits, but the likelihood of damaging some components in the throttle mechanism increases.

4 Cleaning features

There are several ways to remove contaminants from the throttle valve. For example, lazy people prefer to blow the product directly into the mechanism while the engine is running. Of course, this option is not very successful and not entirely gentle; it is not advisable to pull such a composition inside. Dismantling is more difficult; it is important to remember the location of all parts and fasteners, but then you have the opportunity to control your actions and the degree of removal of contaminants. Why is it important?

Car chemicals used to clean the valve are quite aggressive; they can dissolve rubber and plastic elements, of which there are plenty. They are removed just before the operation. Also, you will be able not to spray the liquid thoughtlessly, but apply it exactly to the right places, thereby not washing off the lubricant from the rotating mechanism or at the inlet of the throttle hole. By removing dissolved dirt with a cloth, you can rub more somewhere or even reapply the product if the blockage was very old and cannot be washed off the first time.

Many car owners notice that over time, the car's speed begins to fluctuate, the engine starts poorly, some vibration appears at idle, the speed starts to freeze - all this can be associated with contamination of the throttle valve and its channels. Due to the adhering dirt, the valve begins to close poorly, jams, bites... STOP, where does the dirt come from???

The photo below shows dirty throttle valves of various car brands. Here it is that resinous, sandy, oily mud!

So, cars use a closed-type forced crankcase ventilation system to reduce emissions into the atmosphere. This means that during operation a small amount of oil and gas vapors fly from the engine crankcase from the combustion chamber, and also a small amount of dust passes through the air filter (especially a dirty one), and all this forms an oil-dust flow that settles on the walls of the intake manifold and throttle valve. Over time, this plaque only accumulates. There are other factors that influence throttle valve contamination, but we will focus on the fact that on every car, sooner or later this unit becomes dirty, and there is no escape from it. Therefore, just like any car undergoes scheduled maintenance, the throttle valve needs periodic maintenance.

Well? Are we cleaning? Of course we clean! With what?

We clean with a brush, a brush, do not spare the cleaner, blow with compressed air...

Well, okay, we cleaned everything, blew it out, dried it, tightened it, installed it and... DID NOT forget to check the air filter? Usually, if the throttle is very dirty, then the air filter is also in poor condition. Be sure to check the filter to make sure it doesn’t look like the one in the pictures below.

Well, okay, the filter was replaced, all the clamps were tightened, we looked at everything again to make sure that all the sensors were connected, all the hoses were connected. Are we launching? Drin-drin-drin.... it started, we are happy :) we look at the speed, it stays at 2000.... a few seconds passed - it holds, what is it? What's happened? Is something not connected? Perhaps, but as a rule we have not adapted (trained) a clean throttle, because... the damper was dirty, then the computer set a certain position of the damper (this applies only to the electronic damper) or the position of the idle air control (for a mechanical damper). We cleaned the electronic throttle valve on a Nissan car (pictured), which after cleaning must be adapted, that is, set the speed corresponding to idle speed - 600...750 revolutions. For this purpose, special diagnostic devices are usually used to carry out adaptation and reset training parameters, but training can be carried out manually. To adapt you will need to arm yourself with a stopwatch and patience :)

So, we are learning the throttle from the Nissan Serena. We warm up the engine to operating temperature (about 90 degrees), turn off the ignition - the engine stalls. We wait a few seconds and begin the learning procedure:

turn on the ignition, wait 3 seconds... one, two, three. Press the gas pedal all the way 5 times and release (this needs to be done quickly and within 5 seconds). You need to press at intervals of 1 time per second, so as not to lose the rhythm and not stretch out the time. Be sure to use a stopwatch for this. Next, wait 7 seconds and press the gas pedal all the way and hold it until the CHECK ENGINE light on the instrument panel starts blinking and then turns on continuously. When the CHECK ENGINE light starts to light up constantly, wait 3 seconds and release the gas pedal. We start the engine, the speed should drop to the idle speed we need. In this adaptation procedure, it is very important to maintain all time intervals, then the adaptation will be successful.

Video. We adapt the throttle valve with our own hands

Adapted? Are the revs normal? For us, yes, but if you cleaned the throttle valve on a Mitsubishi Lancer 4G18, then it’s not so simple. Especially if you tried very hard and washed off the molybdenum paint, which is applied from the factory around the perimeter of the throttle valve “heel”. Paint called " Molykote D321R Anti-Friction Coating". If anyone is interested, HERE is a link to the manufacturer. And below is a damper with this coating.

But washed-off paint is not as scary as the fact that on this type of engine the throttle valve “patch” wears out very badly over time. The damper constantly opens and closes, and the dirt at the end of the heel of the damper acts like sandpaper, and after cleaning a gap can form, the so-called “work-out” (see below).

What happens to the engine in this case? How does the electronic engine control unit react to such a large gap in the throttle body? Let's figure it out.

Correct adjustment of XX.

The photo above shows the normal operation of the idle speed control. Through the throttle 1. in the closed position, a minimum amount of air usually passes through (air flow through the damper 2. ), the gap between the throttle valve and the walls in the closed position is minimal, but still there. There is a special coefficient of air flow through the throttle; it takes into account the amount of air passing through a closed damper when regulating idle speed. Idle speed control 4. with minimal leakage, the pump sets a certain step (rod position 5. relative to the bypass channel 3. ) so that the idle speed is in the region of 600...750 revolutions (each engine is different), the number of steps is usually 20...40 steps.

The fewer steps the idle speed control sets 4. , the more the rod extends and closes bypass channel (little air passes through the channel). At zero pitch, no air flows at all. The more steps, the larger the stock opens the bypass channel and more air passes through.

In our case, rice 11. To maintain 750 rpm, the ECU (electronic control unit) set the idle speed control position to 20 steps (+/- several steps) on a warm engine - this corresponds to normal idle speed maintenance. In the parameters on the Mitsubishi Lancer this indicator is indicated as - ISC STEP.MTR 20STEP.

ISC is an abbreviation for Idle Speed ​​Control Motor, i.e. in Russian “idle speed controller”, this is what this controller looks like! Photo below:)

In fact, it may look different on different cars, the main thing is that it performs the same function for all - maintaining and adjusting idle speed.

Video. Checking the idle air control yourself using the example of Toyota

But we have moved a little away from the topic, let's return to our discussion and look at the following figure 12. Let's imagine what will happen if through our throttle valve 1. more air will begin to pass through, that is, the gap between the throttle valve and the walls will become larger, resulting in air leakage 2. through the damper 1. will increase. If more air begins to flow through, then the idle speed will increase from 750 to.... for example, 1000 revolutions.

The engine control unit will begin to react to such a change and will try to set the speed corresponding to idle speed. It will send a command to the idle speed controller 4. reduce the number of steps by such a value that the revolutions become equal to 750. Let’s say from 20 steps he reduced this value to 5 and our revolutions returned to normal. But what happens if the gap between the throttle valve and the walls becomes so large that the regulator 4., completely closing the bypass channel 3., will not be able to achieve the speed we need. Let's imagine that by setting "0" steps ( ISC STEP.MTR 0STEP- this indicator corresponds to a completely closed bypass channel, in Fig. 12 this is shown with a red cross) the idle speed has not returned to normal and is 1000 revolutions, how will the engine ECU react then? Of course, the control unit will understand that the idle speed controller is not doing its job and will generate an error in the idle speed control system. In this case P0505- Idle Control System Malfunction. Many people seeing this error condemn the regulator to replacement. This may be the reason, but in this case it is not so, let’s look at the picture below.

Malfunction in the XX control system.

What to do in such a situation? The only thing that will help here is replacing the entire throttle block, or replacing the “patch” of the throttle valve (photo below).

So, we figured out how to clean the throttle valve on Nissan and Lancer. But what if we cleaned the electronic throttle valve on a Toyota Avensis and the rpm after cleaning still remains at around 2000, what then? If we don’t have a diagnostic tool for adaptation at hand, then we arm ourselves with a 10 key and unscrew the negative terminal of the battery for 10...15 seconds. After this action, the adaptation is reset, the learning parameters are reset to the factory settings, and after starting the engine, the speed returns to normal. The throttle valve shines and sparkles, delighting its owner :) But such a procedure, alas, does not work on all cars.

If you doubt that you can clean the throttle valve yourself, taking into account the characteristics of your car, then it is better to entrust this procedure to service center specialists who have extensive experience in this field.

The throttle valve regulates the flow of air into the engine intake manifold in accordance with the force applied to the gas pedal. For normal operation of the engine, a strictly defined volume of air and fuel is required in each specific mode and at a given speed. A lean or enriched mixture leads to increased fuel consumption, unstable engine operation, and difficulties starting the engine. Incorrect air supply can be caused by malfunctions of the intake manifold and the duct as a whole, but component contamination is more common. Therefore, it is necessary first of all to check and clean the engine throttle valve.

Why clean

The air mixture supplied to the intake tract of a car engine is needed for efficient combustion of fuel in the chamber. If there is not enough air or its volume does not correspond to that required for a given engine operating mode, then the fuel-air mixture will be burned less efficiently. This leads to unstable engine operation, a drop in power, and an increase in fuel consumption.

Prolonged operation of the machine with a contaminated damper can also lead to damage to engine parts.

The elements of the cylinder-piston group of the combustion chamber are designed to work with a certain volume and composition of the fuel-air mixture.

What causes pollution?

Among the main causes of pollution are the following:

• Operating a vehicle using low-quality fuel. Low quality gasoline with a large amount of sediment and impurities is one of the reasons for the formation of contaminants in the throttle assembly.
• Dirt entering through the air supply system. Dust and dirt settling on the parts of the throttle assembly enter the intake tract through a dirty air filter or an air duct with a broken seal. It is recommended to change the air filter in accordance with the manufacturer's regulations (maintenance).
• Fuel filter is dirty. A fuel filter, unlike an oil or air filter, needs to be replaced much less frequently, but this does not mean that it is less dirty and does not pose a threat to engine parts. Dirt from it can also get onto the damper.

Precipitation in the form of oil dust from crankcase gases is also dangerous. Oil with dirt and dust on the valve is formed due to crankcase gases, which usually enter through the valve cover.

Main signs of pollution

The following signs indicate the need for cleaning:

• Difficulty starting the engine.
• Unstable engine operation (engine stalls while driving).
• Uneven engine idle speed (speed “floats” at idle).
• “Stuck” or drop in speed.

How to clean

Every specialist in a specialized car service knows how to properly clean the throttle valve, but not every car owner. But it is recommended to perform this procedure at least 30-50 thousand kilometers - depending on the quality of the fuel used, the condition of the filters and systems.

You can clean the throttle valve without removing the valve or by removing the part. In the first case, an intake valve cleaner is used. First, the air duct is dismantled, after which, with the damper closed, the product, which is usually released in the form of an aerosol, is applied to the surface of the part. Dirt and oil accumulations are removed with a soft cloth. Next, you need to open the damper (press the gas pedal all the way) and remove dirt from the side surfaces and channels. The procedure is performed several times.

Please note that partial cleaning, as well as washing the injectors without removing them, will not completely remove all contaminants from the part. Therefore, it is better to carry out the procedure with removing the throttle.

Complete cleaning

Complete cleaning of dirt and carbon deposits is only possible when the device is removed. The correct way to dismantle the unit is as follows:

1. Disconnect the air duct.
2. Remove the damper by unscrewing the bolts and disconnecting the connectors.
3. Using a carburetor cleaner or a special compound for throttle valves, use a soft cloth to thoroughly wipe the part inside and out.
4. Repeat the cleaning procedure several times, avoiding strong mechanical impact, which can lead to removal of the protective coating of the metal, damage to the damper itself and its position sensor.
5. After cleaning the throttle, reassemble the entire air supply system assembly in the reverse order.
6. “Train” the damper after installation by setting the idle speed to the required (factory) value.

How to clean the throttle position sensor

Contamination can also get onto the position sensor. Due to sensor malfunction, loss or poor contact, the information received by the vehicle's ECU about the position of the part will be incorrect. As a result, the engine will not gain speed - or, more dangerously, the throttle will open completely while driving, which will lead to an increase in speed instead of braking.

Use a liquid and a soft cloth to remove dirt and oil deposits from the sensor without using excessive force.

How much does cleaning cost at a car service center?

When cleaning yourself, the costs depend only on the cost of the selected liquid. As a rule, this amount is around 100-500 rubles, depending on the manufacturer and store.

The technician will tell you how much it costs to clean the throttle valve at a service center after preliminary diagnostics. Remember that the appearance of signs of contamination does not mean that only cleaning is required - there may be malfunctions of the air and fuel supply unit. Therefore, it is impossible to give an exact price without checking.

You can clean the car engine damper yourself, but if you do not have special skills, it is definitely better to contact the experts at a specialized car service center. In this case, you will definitely save time and will not be afraid of damage to the elements of the injection system, which you can cause by unqualified actions.

Cleaning the throttle valve is an important step in the functioning of the car, so it must be approached with full responsibility. What is this damper? This mechanism is considered one of the parts of the intake tract of any vehicle, thanks to which it is possible to regulate the amount of air entering the throttle assembly to form an air-fuel mixture in the car. If this part of the car is in a faulty condition, much less air will penetrate into the manifold, which will significantly worsen the performance of the car. That is why every driver should know how to properly clean the throttle valve and what requirements must be taken into account when washing.

Most of the engines that power cars operate thanks to the fuel that enters the cylinders of this spare part. In them, all the fuel gradually burns out, which generates energy with which the pistons move and the vehicle moves.

In order for the fuel to ignite without problems, a spark must appear in the engine (it can be diesel or gasoline). However, if there is, there may still not be enough energy for movement, since the fuel must not only ignite, but also maintain such combustion. But in order for it to be carried out without problems, it is important to give the flame gas, in other words referred to as oxygen.

It is known that there is quite a lot of such “gas” around us, so it can easily be combined with fuel, thereby obtaining a fuel-air mixture that quickly and easily ignites, which occurs in the inside of the engine.

In order for air to freely penetrate into the car, and this to be carried out in strict regulation, the vehicle must be equipped with a throttle unit, the design of which will have a special damper that regulates air flows.

Today, two types of such dampers are known, namely:

• mechanical;
• electromechanical, which includes a control unit.

This valve is closely connected to the pedal, which produces gas. By pressing it, the damper instantly opens, which facilitates the penetration of air into the manifold. In this way, the mixture is supplied with oxygen, which ultimately allows the vehicle to function normally. However, this method of car operation is used only on old cars - on modern cars, the electronic opening of this damper is used, which is regulated using a control unit. He himself reads all the indicators of the sensors located in the car, after which he makes a decision on what form the damper should be in at the moment.

Compared to a mechanical drive, a modern one, that is, an electronic one, opens the damper even if the driver does not press the pedal with his foot.

As a result, this design makes it possible to comply with most modern environmental requirements, and also ensures driver safety and reduces the amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle.

Why do they clean the throttle valve, and why is this manipulation carried out every 10 thousand kilometers? This must be done so that the car can function normally. Just like many vehicle parts require cleaning, you should not forget about the dampers. After all, without an air flow, you can’t wait for the car to move normally.

Why does it come time to clean the throttle body sooner or later? The most common problem is blockage.

This can happen for some reasons, namely:

1. Road dust. Although the throttle valve is located immediately behind the filter, small dust particles still penetrate into the throttle, gradually contaminating it. If the filter itself is clogged, then large dust particles will already penetrate into the throttle assembly, which will cause contamination in a short time.
2. Ventilation of gases. On most modern vehicles, crankcase gases are completely cleared of oil particles and then enter the intake system along with normal air flow. This manipulation is carried out in the throttle assembly. This removal of gases complies with all environmental standards.
3. Re-burning of previously exhaust gases. This system began to be used recently, but in a short time it managed to become popular among car manufacturers. The gases that were previously exhausted do not exit with the air, but again enter the throttle, and then into the engine, where they continue their combustion process. As a result, the vehicle releases much less harmful substances into the atmosphere, but clogs the damper more.

Why does the valve become clogged? Oil particles mix with carbon deposit components, as well as dust, resulting in the formation of a dense film on the damper, which forms after each vehicle operation.

After tens of kilometers of driving, such dirt will disrupt the functioning of the car or disable the entire throttle assembly, the replacement of which is not only difficult, but also expensive.

Therefore, if there is a large layer of dirt, the engine cannot function normally, which means that the car owner is recommended to wash the throttle valve, and then the car will work normally again.

How often do you need to clean the damper, performing this manipulation

If you notice such “symptoms” in your vehicle, it is important to immediately inspect the integrity of the throttle assembly, and then immediately begin cleaning it.

These signs include:

• the appearance of floating speeds, which are easy to detect when the engine is idling (they can be noticed by the appearance of unevenness and lack of coherence in the functioning of the engine);
• the tachometer needle will always be in motion;
• difficulties starting the engine (this phenomenon occurs even if the engine has just stalled and remains hot);
• increased fuel consumption compared to the previous operation of the machine;
• loss of power in a vehicle with a large engine volume.

To determine whether the throttle valve needs to be cleaned, you need to inspect it. What does this give? Thanks to this manipulation, it is possible to understand the condition of the valve, as well as assess the degree of contamination. To remove this part, you need to remove the pipe that comes from the air filter, and then look into the throttle assembly. If it is dirty, it will be noticeable by a layer of dirt on the body and walls of the spare part.

Of course, it is better to contact a car service to clean the damper, but if the driver has extra time and desire, this manipulation can be carried out at home, especially since all designs of the throttle assembly are approximately the same.

Recommendations for cleaning the damper that can be given to novice car enthusiasts:

• if you start cleaning, then the throttle should be removed completely in order to clean not only the outer part, but also the inside;
• The cleaning product should be chosen carefully so that it does not harm the car parts;
• When cleaning, do not use rough cloths or brushes with hard bristles, as they can damage the molybdenum layer, which is necessary for improved air passage;
• The damper is cleaned once every 10 thousand kilometers, so it is not recommended to carry out this manipulation too often.

Why clean the damper, and what does this manipulation give?

Cleaning has a positive effect not only on the throttle assembly, but also allows the car to work normally.

How often should the part be cleaned? It should be done infrequently so as not to spoil the condition of this unit.

The process for cleaning the damper is as follows:

1. Remove the pipe leading from the filter to the throttle. To do this, you just need to loosen the screw located on the clamp.
2. Disconnect the 2 hoses, which are also attached with a clamp. They are located on both sides of the part. After this, disconnect the contact located on the throttle.
3. We unscrew the bolts that are located around the base of the unit, while gradually removing the assembly from the manifold.
4. We wash the removed spare part - for this we use a liquid intended for washing the carburetor, which is called carb cleaner. It is important to note that after removing a part, it must be cleaned immediately.
5. After the liquid has been drained, it is advisable to replace the rubber gasket.
6. Now we wipe the part again with a good cloth, and then assemble the throttle assembly in the reverse order (if the unit is dirty, wash it with the product again).

What should you pay attention to?

Cheap compounds should not be used, as they will contain aggressive elements that will not have the best effect on the condition of the throttle assembly. On average, this detergent should cost 100-150 rubles. It is important to use a soft, lint-free cloth for wiping.

As you can see, cleaning the damper is not at all difficult. Before you let the professionals wash the damper so that they can clean it and put it in order, you need to try to do this manipulation yourself, because it is not difficult to do - everyone who washed it says that it takes 20 minutes.